Saudi Camp Braces for Fresh Injury Blow Ahead of Egypt Friendly
22 March 2026
Injury Blues Hit Saudi Camp Ahead of Egypt Friendly
A fresh setback has struck the Saudi national team just days before their high-profile warm-up against Egypt.
Earlier, captain Salem Al-Dawsari was withdrawn from the squad in Jeddah due to a separate injury.
Shortly after, the official Saudi federation announced that defender Hassan Tambakti missed Sunday's training session with thigh muscle pain.
Tambakti underwent an MRI in a Jeddah hospital to determine the extent of the issue, the federation said.
The defender has been a key figure for coach Hervé Renard, so a potential absence would be a significant blow as Saudi Arabia prepares for two friendlies with Egypt and Serbia ahead of World Cup 2026.
The Saudis will host Egypt on March 27 at the Al-Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, then head to Belgrade to face Serbia on March 31, as part of their World Cup preparations.
In broader terms, the squad continues to assess fitness ahead of a busy international slate, aiming to bolster depth in defense for the tournament year.
Read also: 5 solutions on who could replace Salem Al-Dawsari in the Saudi-Egypt friendly.
Sniper punchline 1: If injuries were targets, the Green Falcons would be scoring them like headshots—right in the funny bone of the schedule.
Sniper punchline 2: The only thing sharper than their strikers’ shots might be their medical staff’s appointment book—let’s hope the rehab hits the target, not the post.
